Episode 6 - "Dance With Me"
OPENING TITLES
Ext. Day - RFK Junior High
(Shot of the school.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Homeroom
(Wide shot of the classroom from behind the teacher's desk. Mrs. Ritvo stands at the head of the class. Most kids have taken their seats.)
October seventeenth, 1968.
(The bell rings.)
MR. DIPERNA (On the speaker): Testing. Testing 1, 2, 3...
(Shot of Kevin and Lisa. Kevin looks at Lisa, while she looks at her books. Kevin looks away, and Lisa glances at Kevin.)
I had assumed my standard homeroom position, drooling in the general direction of Lisa Berlini.
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin off-screen.)
But today...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Lisa off-screen.)
Things were different between Lisa and me.
(Shot of the speaker on the wall.)
MR. DIPERNA: RFK Junior High's revised dress code has been posted outside my office.
(Close shot of Lisa looking toward Kevin, and rolling her eyes. She smiles and makes a gagging gesture.)
MR. DIPERNA: Although it's fairly self-explanatory...
(Close shot of Kevin smiling.)
MR. DIPERNA: I'd like to take this opportunity...
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin off-screen.)
You see, the night before...
(Kevin makes "yakking" gestures, and points toward the speaker.)
We'd spent very close to four complete minutes talking to each other on the telephone.
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin in agreement.)
Our relationship was entering the fast lane of the seventh-grade social scene and it was up to me to keep the ball rolling.
(Close shot of Kevin smiling at Lisa off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Section Two, Article One - the mini skirt clause.
(Kevin looks toward the speaker off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Ahem!
(Close shot of Lisa. She covers an exaggerated yawn with her hand, then tilts her head on her hands, simulating sleep.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking toward the speaker off-screen.)
(Shot of the speaker on the wall.)
MR. DIPERNA: Any skirt cut higher than two inches above the knees...
(Close shot of Lisa looking at Kevin and rolling her eyes.)
MR. DIPERNA: Will call for immediate disciplinary action.
(Close shot of Kevin as he pops his cheek. He glances around as the class laughs.)
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin.)
MR. DIPERNA: Section Two, Article Two...
MRS. RITVO (V/O): Is there a problem...
(Lisa makes a face and looks forward.)
(Shot of Mrs. Ritvo standing at blackboard, looking at Kevin.)
MRS. RITVO: Mr. Arnold?
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: Uh, no ma'am.
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin.)
Yeah...
(Kevin smiles and glances around.)
I was looking pretty good now. All I had to do was plot my next move.
(Sound of feed-back from the speaker.)
(Shot of Kevin in the foreground and Lisa in the background.)
MR. DIPERNA: RFK's first Fall dance...
(Lisa looks surprised and smiles at the off-screen student in front of Kevin.)
MR. DIPERNA: Will take place this Friday night.
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin.)
(Close shot of Kevin smiling at Lisa off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: So for music and fun, dancing and romancing...
(Kevin smiles and looks toward Lisa.)
MR. DIPERNA: Come one, come all, and have a ball.
(Shot of Lisa looking Kevin up and down.)
MR. DIPERNA: That is all.
Cut to
School Hallway
(Paul follows Kevin up the hallway.)
PAUL: You're gonna ask Lisa Berlini, aren't you?
(Kevin pauses in front of his locker and turns toward Paul.)
KEVIN: I don't know. Maybe.
(Close shot of Paul gesturing.)
PAUL: Then who am I supposed to go with?
(Close shot of Kevin at his open locker, looking at Paul.)
KEVIN: I don't know.
(Kevin glances off, then brightens.)
KEVIN: Hey! Why don't you ask Carla Healey?
(Close shot of Paul as he starts sneezing.)
PAUL: No way. No way.
(Kevin turns around and smiles.)
KEVIN: Why not? I hear she likes you.
(Close shot of Paul rubbing the side of his nose.)
PAUL: Just stop talking about her, OK?
(Paul pulls out a hankerchief and blows his nose.)
The words "Carla" and "Healey" had the same effect on Paul as seafood and grass pollen...
(Winnie approaches in the background.)
Severe membrane inflammation.
(Winnie looks at Paul and frowns. She looks at Kevin.)
WINNIE: What's wrong with him?
(Wider shot of Kevin leaning against his locker, Paul fussing with his hankerchief, and Winnie standing between them.)
KEVIN: I said the "C" word.
WINNIE: Carla Healey? (Smiles.)
(Paul sneezes violently.)
(Winnie looks at Paul.)
WINNIE: Are you gonna ask her to the dance or something?
PAUL: No way, I'm not.
(Close shot of Winnie smiling at Kevin.)
WINNIE: You mean, you're asking Carla Healey?
(Close shot of Kevin. He is still smiling from the joke.)
PAUL (V/O): No he's asking Lisa Berlini.
(Kevin frowns at Paul.)
(Close shot of Paul scratching his chin.)
(Close shot of Winnie looking from Paul to Kevin.)
WINNIE: Lisa Berlini, huh?
(Close shot of Kevin. He glances around and shrugs.)
KEVIN: Yeah. I don't know. I might not.
(Close shot of Winnie.)
WINNIE: You know, you should. She's nice.
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: She's OK.
(Close shot of Winnie. She pauses, then looks toward Paul.)
WINNIE: Well...
(Winnie looks at Kevin.)
WINNIE: I guess I'll see you guys later.
(Winnie exits past the camera. A little "Winnie's Theme" plays.)
(Close shot of Kevin. He looks up and down at Winnie off-screen.)
(Wider shot of Kevin and Paul. Kevin slams his locker, looks at Paul, and exits out of the shot.)
PAUL: What?! (Gestures.)
(Paul follows after Kevin.)
Cut to
Social Studies Classroom
(Shot of a picture of beached whales on the projection screen, and a wooden pointer tapping it.)
MR. KATZ (V/O): They're called dead whales, people.
(Wide shot from the back of the classroom. Kevin and Lisa are sitting in the back row. Mr. Katz is at the front of the class, in the background.)
MR. KATZ: My question to you is - why?
I felt sort of weird talking to Winnie about Lisa...
(Shot past the slide-projector of Kevin and Lisa.)
But I'd forgot all that by social studies.
(Close shot of Kevin looking toward the screen.)
The lights were dimmed for a slide show on pollution.
(Shot of Kevin looking toward Lisa.)
And I was within striking distance...
(Lisa brushes her hand through her hair.)
Of the best-smelling head of hair in the seventh grade.
(Closer shot of Mr. Katz holding a pointer.)
MR. KATZ: Where have all the flowers gone?
(Shot of a student operating the projector.)
(Shot of Mr. Katz. He points to the image of a freeway cloverleaf.)
MR. KATZ: How many roads must a man walk down?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Lisa.)
The time was right for...
(Lisa looks at Kevin.)
The most intimate form of communication known to twelve-year-old man...
(Music "The Letter" - Joe Cocker starts. Kevin looks at Lisa.)
Inter-classroom note writing.
(Shot of Lisa glancing away from Kevin.)
(Kevin writes something in his notebook, rips the page, then passes the note to Lisa.)
(Close shot of note): "Pretty interesting stuff huh?"
(Lisa smiles and undoes her pen.)
(Close shot of the notebook page as Lisa tears it off.)
(Shot from behind Lisa and Kevin, as she passes the note.)
(Close shot of the note): "Tell me about it."
(Close shot of Kevin smiling, then writing again.)
(Close shot of the notebook as Kevin rips the page.)
(Shot from behind Lisa and Kevin, as he passes the note.)
(Close shot of the note.): "At least we won't have any homework."
(Close shot of Lisa looking at the note.)
In a note you could say anything you wanted to.
(Close shot of Lisa ripping the page.)
Lines I would have choked on under the glare of fluorescent lights...
(Shot from behind Lisa and Kevin, as she passes the note.)
Were coming out like poetry with the venetian blinds drawn.
(Close shot of the note.): "I hope you're right."
(Close shot of Kevin smiling, then writing again.)
(Close shot of the notebook as Kevin rips the page.)
(Shot of Lisa looking at Kevin as he passes the note.)
(Close shot of the note.): "Are you going to the dance on Friday?"
(Lisa smiles and writes again.)
(Close shot of Lisa ripping the page.)
(Shot from behind Lisa and Kevin, as she passes the note.)
(Close shot of the note.): "Maybe..."
(Shot of Kevin glancing at Lisa.)
The signs were there. She wanted me.
(Kevin sharpens his pencil and looks at Lisa.)
It was time to throw caution to the wind.
(Shot of Lisa looking at Kevin, then forward.)
(Shot of the note as Kevin writes it.)
(Close shot of the note): "Want to go to the dance with me?"
(Close shot of the notebook as Kevin rips the page.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Lisa, while he folds the note, then puts it on her desk.)
(Shot of Lisa unfolding the note.)
(Kevin watches Lisa read the note.)
MR. KATZ (V/O): The problem is excess.
(Close shot of Mr. Katz as he gestures.)
MR. KATZ: We keep pushing, pushing, and it always ends up by us going one step too far.
(Shot of Kevin getting nervous and glancing toward Lisa.)
Dear God, he was right. What was I thinking? I mean, one lousy phone call, a couple of notes and suddenly I'm asking her to the dance? It was all happening too quickly. I wanted that note back.
(Close shot of Lisa ripping a page.)
(Shot of Lisa in the foreground, and Kevin in the background.)
(Lisa tosses the note on Kevin's desk, and turns forward as Kevin picks it up.)
(Close shot of the note.): "OKAY." (The "O" is a smiley-face.)
(Close shot of Kevin smiling, and looking at Lisa.)
Then again, why stop when you're on a roll?
(Close shot of Lisa smiling at Kevin.)
MR. KATZ (V/O): Lights, please.
(Lisa looks forward.)
(The lights come on, and the bell rings.)
(Wider shot of Kevin and Lisa, as the class begins to exit.)
(Lisa looks at Kevin as she stands, then walks toward the door.)
It was all so perfect.
(Close shot of Kevin organizing his supplies.)
With one flick of the wrist I'd opened up an entirely new and exciting chapter in my life as an adolescent.
(Shot of Kevin walking toward the door. The camera pans with him.)
Lisa Berlini was mine to have and to hold, for better or for worse, till death do us part.
(Shot from behind Kevin as Lisa is stopped by Brad, just outside the doorway. Kevin pauses behind her.)
BRAD: Hi, Lisa.
(Close shot of Brad.)
BRAD: You want to go to dance with me on Friday? (Smiles.)
(Shot of Kevin, Lisa and Brad. Kevin is standing behind Lisa and frowning.)
LISA: OK!
BRAD: Great. I'll see you.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning. Brad exits across the shot.)
I had it in writing.
(Kevin looks toward Brad, then Lisa.)
Maybe there was some legal action I could take.
(Wider shot of Lisa talking to her girlfriend. Kevin is behind her.)
KEVIN: Um, Lisa?
(Close shot of Lisa as she turns around in surprise.)
LISA: Oh, Kevin!
(Shot of Kevin frowning.)
KEVIN: Yeah. Um, did you just say...you'd go to the dance with Brad?
(Close shot of Lisa glancing around, then looking blankly at Kevin.)
I'd seen that look before, in 1964 when my mother put our cocker spaniel to sleep.
LISA: Well, yeah.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning.)
KEVIN: But...you just said you'd go with me.
(Close shot of Lisa.)
LISA: That was before Brad asked me.
(Kevin frowns again.)
KEVIN: So?
(Shot of Lisa frowning.)
LISA: So, I didn't know he was gonna ask me when I said "yes" to you.
KEVIN: So? (Shrugs.)
(Lisa looks worried.)
LISA: Well, I mean...you're not gonna be weird about this or anything, are you?
(Kevin sighs and shrugs.)
LISA (V/O): I mean, I really like you, Kevin.
(Close shot of Lisa.)
LISA: As a -
(Freeze-frame of Lisa in mid-sentence.)
And that's when she said it. The word I was to hear from beautiful girls, like Lisa Berlini, time and time again. The word that struck a chord so violent in me that I wanted to strangle guys like Brad Gaines with my bare hands.
LISA: - friend.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and glancing away.)
Uhhhh!
Cut to
School Cafeteria
(Close shot of Paul smiling at Kevin off-screen.)
PAUL: Tough break with this Lisa Berlini thing, huh?
(Shot past Winnie of Kevin and Paul. They are sitting at a table. Kevin is frowning, and poking at his food.)
At least Paul was happy to hear of my rejection. It meant he wouldn't have to ask Carla Healey to be his date.
WINNIE: Aren't you gonna eat your hamburger?
KEVIN: I'm not hungry.
PAUL: I wouldn't eat it either. You see how they make the hamburgers? (Frowns.) They put all this gross stuff in it.
(Close shot of Winnie.)
WINNIE: It tastes alright to me.
(Close shot of Paul.)
PAUL: I heard Eddie Obin bit into a hamburger and a bug flew out from under the bun.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and looking away.)
WINNIE (V/O): No way.
PAUL (V/O): That's what he said.
WINNIE (V/O): I don't believe it.
PAUL (V/O): I do. It's documented fact.
(Kevin frowns and bangs the table with his fist.)
Alright, that did it.
(Wider shot of the three of them.)
There was only so much one guy could take.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning at Paul.)
KEVIN: First of all, there's no way a bug can breathe under a hamburger bun. And it probably would have suffocated before Eddie even bit into it.
WINNIE (V/O): That's right!
(Kevin looks toward Winnie off-screen.)
WINNIE (V/O): And besides that...
(Close shot of Winnie.)
WINNIE: A bug is too quick to get caught in a hamburger to begin with.
(Wider shot of the three of them.)
KEVIN: Let's say it did get caught under the bun, but didn't suffocate. It probably would have flown away when...
K & W:...Eddie put the ketchup on.
(Kevin and Winnie look at each other. Winnie smiles.)
Winnie and I always saw eye to eye on stuff like that.
(Close shot of Kevin smiling.)
It was like we were born under the same sign or something.
(Close shot of Winnie smiling.)
(Close shot of Paul.)
PAUL: Suit yourselves. I'm getting an ice cream sandwich.
(Paul stands and exits.)
(A little "Winnie's Theme" plays.)
(Shot of Kevin looking after Paul.)
(Shot of Winnie looking at Kevin, then glancing at the lunch menu on the table.)
KEVIN: Oh, is that the new lunch menu?
WINNIE: Yeah.
(Winnie reads from the menu.)
WINNIE: Pizza boats, chilled pears, and carrot sticks on Wednesday.
(Shot of Kevin looking at Winnie.)
Maybe it was the buzz of the cafeteria...
(Winnie looks at Kevin, then back to the menu.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
Maybe it was the sting from Lisa Berlini, but sitting there across from Winnie...I felt a hunger burning within me.
(Shot of Winnie reading from the menu.)
WINNIE: Sloppy Joes, Tater-Tots, and an orange wedge on Thursday.
(Winnie looks toward Kevin.)
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: I love sloppy Joes!
(Close shot of Winnie.)
WINNIE: Me too. (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Kevin.)
Her message seemed clear enough. Behind the charade of the lunch menu recital burned the untapped rage of our secret passion.
(Winnie looks directly at Kevin.)
WINNIE: On Friday it's macaroni and cheese, peanut butter cookies, and fruit cocktail.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
KEVIN: Winnie, will you go to the dance with me?
(Close shot of Winnie.)
WINNIE: Dance? I can't.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning.)
(Close shot of Winnie. She looks sad.)
WINNIE: I'm already going with Kirk McCray.
(Kevin frowns.)
Fade to
School Hallway
(Kevin and Paul are standing at their lockers, looking off, down the hallway. Kevin is frowning.)
PAUL: God, Winnie Cooper and an eighth-grader.
(Shot of from Kevin's perspective of Kirk and Winnie a little way down the hallway.)
(Shot of Kevin at his open locker, as Paul turns to him.)
PAUL: Can you believe it?
(Kevin frowns.)
KEVIN: Really amazing.
(Kevin rummages in his locker as Paul looks at Kirk and Winnie off-screen.)
PAUL: I mean...he's actually...cool.
(Kevin frowns at Paul.)
KEVIN: So I'm told.
(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin.)
PAUL: Captain of the football team...Mr. Popularity.
(Close shot of Kevin. He shakes his finger at Paul.)
KEVIN: Look, Paul. There's more to life than being cool, athletic and popular!
(Kevin looks at Kirk and Winnie off-screen.)
It was all too much to take. First Lisa Berlini had opened the wound...
(Close shot from Kevin's perspective of Kirk and Winnie. She is standing against the lockers, as he leans on them. They talk and smile.)
Now Winnie Cooper had poured the salt.
(Shot of Kevin turning toward his locker.)
There was only one solution left with regards to the upcoming dance.
(Paul crosses around Kevin, and pats him on the shoulder. Kevin turns.)
PAUL: So I guess it's just you and me for the dance on Friday, huh? (Smiles.)
(Kevin smiles sarcastically.)
KEVIN: Nope, I'm not going!
(Kevin turns away from Paul and frowns. He slams his locker shut and walks past the camera.)
(Paul looks shocked.)
PAUL: What?!
(Paul exits past the camera, after Kevin.)
Cut to
Ext. Day - Kevin's Bus-stop
(Close shot of the bus pulling away, revealing Kevin and Paul. Paul gestures.)
PAUL: You've got to go.
(Kevin frowns.)
KEVIN: No, I don't.
(They start to walk toward Kevin's house.)
PAUL: Kevin, you know I can't go if you don't go.
(They pause, as Kevin gestures at Paul.)
KEVIN: Yes, you can. You can do anything you want. I'm staying home.
(They walk again.)
PAUL: Kevin, only losers stay home.
(Kevin pauses and turns to Paul.)
KEVIN: Then I guess I'm a loser. What's the big deal anyway, it's just a stupid dance.
(Kevin walks out of the shot. Paul frowns.)
PAUL: Just a dance?
(Paul trots past the camera.)
PAUL: Just a dance?!
Cut to
Int. Day - Kevin's Bedroom
(Wide shot of the bedroom as Kevin enters followed by Paul.)
PAUL: Just a dance?!
(Kevin flops face-down under the pillow.)
PAUL: Kev, you're making a big mistake!
KEVIN: No I'm not! Now go away!
PAUL: I just can't show up to this thing alone!
(Kevin rolls over and sits up.)
KEVIN: Then don't!
(Close shot of Kevin gesturing.)
KEVIN: Go ask Carla Healey.
(He pounds himself on the chest with both hands.)
KEVIN: And stop bothering me!
(Shot of Paul.)
PAUL: Maybe I will!
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: Fine!
(Shot of Paul.)
PAUL: Good!
(Paul picks up his books and stomps out.)
(Shot of Kevin frowning and holding his arms out.)
(Sound of a door slamming and Paul sneezing.)
(Kevin sighs and looks down.)
(Sound of TV-show music.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Arnold Kitchen
(Close shot of "I Dream of Jeannie" on TV.)
ANTHONY: Jeannie, I want to have -
(Jeannie gets up and hugs Anthony.)
JEANNIE: Oh, Master! I've been so unhappy. All I wish to do is please you!
(Shot of Kevin at kitchen table resting his head on his fist.)
ANTHONY (V/O): Jeannie, I can't figure you out. You've never behaved this way before!
(Shot of the TV.)
JEANNIE: Oh, no, master, I only want to make you happy.
(Shot of Kevin.)
Oh, what I would have given for one of those.
(Kevin glances down, then back to the TV.)
(Norma places a stack of plates on the table in front of Kevin.)
(Wider shot of Kevin, and Norma standing next to him.)
NORMA: If you guys want to eat tonight you've gotta set the table for me.
KEVIN: Mom...!
JEANNIE (V/O): Command me to do...anything, Master!
(Norma frowns at Kevin as she returns to the counter.)
NORMA: And I'd appreciate if you do it now.
(Kevin turns a little and frowns, as Norma gets place-mats from the drawer.)
NORMA: Not in an hour, not after I Dream of Jeannie, but now.
(Norma sets the place-mats on the table.)
(Wider shot of the TV as Norma switches it off.)
(Shot of Kevin still sitting at the table, as Norma returns to the sink.)
First Lisa Berlini, then Winnie Cooper...
(Kevin frowns and stands, putting the silverware on the stack of plates.)
Now my own flesh and blood. Women were proving to be the bane of my existence.
(Kevin picks up the place-mats, frowns over his shoulder at Norma, then starts to set the table.)
(Norma looks at Kevin with motherly concern, and leans forward on the counter.)
NORMA: Kevin?
KEVIN: Huh?
NORMA: Are you feeling alright?
(Kevin pauses and looks at Norma.)
KEVIN: Yeah.
(He shrugs and frowns, and continues setting the table.)
(Norma looks at Kevin as she walks toward Kevin.)
NORMA: Something happen at school?
(Close shot of Kevin. He glances off.)
KEVIN: No.
(He shrugs, and continues to set the table.)
I was too complicated to be pried open like that.
(Kevin glances at Norma.)
I had my dignity.
NORMA (V/O): You sure?
(Kevin glances between Norma and the table, then looks at Norma.)
KEVIN: I don't think Mrs. Cooper's a very good mother!
(Close shot of Norma frowning.)
NORMA: I beg your pardon?
(Close shot of Kevin shrugging and sighing, and glancing around.)
KEVIN: Well, it's just that she's letting Winnie go to this dance with this big eighth-grader...and he's a real jerk. I don't think she should let her go.
(Wider shot of Kevin continuing to set the table.)
(Norma moves forward, and gestures.)
NORMA: Well, is there something Mrs. Cooper should know about this eighth-grader?
(Close shot of Norma frowning.)
NORMA: Does he take drugs or something?
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and looking down.)
KEVIN: No...
(Close shot of Norma.)
NORMA: Well, what is it then?
(Shot of Kevin. He gestures and looks around.)
KEVIN: Well, it's just that he's this eighth-grader and he thinks he's so cool and...
(Kevin looks at Norma.)
KEVIN: Winnie's very young, mom.
(Close shot of Norma. She smiles briefly.)
NORMA: I know.
(Norma frowns.)
NORMA: She is.
(Norma shrugs.)
NORMA: Did anyone else ask her?
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: Well, how am I supposed to know? (Gestures.)
(Wider shot of Kevin walking around the table.)
KEVIN: I'm not even going. (Gestures.)
(Norma starts setting out the napkins.)
NORMA: Well, I guess...we don't really have a lot to say about...who Winnie goes to the dance with.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and looking down.)
KEVIN: I know.
NORMA (V/O): And just because you go to a dance with someone...
(Close shot of Norma.)
NORMA: Doesn't mean you have to spend the whole night dancing with them.
(Shot of Kevin looking down.)
KEVIN: Yeah.
NORMA (V/O): The great thing about a dance...
(Shot of Norma at the cupboard, smiling over her shoulder toward Kevin.)
NORMA: Is that anything can happen.
(Norma smiles at Kevin and returns to the table.)
(Shot of Kevin looking down.)
Mom's advice always followed a certain logic...
(Kevin looks at Norma off-screen.)
But somehow it was gonna take that extra maternal nudge to kick me into action.
(Wider shot of Kevin leaning on the table, as Norma sets glasses down.)
NORMA: But if you do decide to stay home, we're having company Friday night. So you...can be mother's little helper.
(Norma taps Kevin's nose.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Arnold House
(Kevin looking at himself in the mirror. He is wearing a V-neck sweater and tie.)
KEVIN: Hi. Would you care to dance?
(Cut to shot of Kevin returning, wearing a moire-patterned shirt.)
KEVIN: Hello there. I couldn't help noticing you all alone over here. You wanna dance?
(Cut to shot of Kevin returning, wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses.)
KEVIN: Yo, babe! On the dance floor. I don't got all night. (Gestures.)
Cut to
Int. - Arnold Livingroom
(Shot of 45 RPM record dropping onto the player.)
(Music "Magic Carpet Ride" starts.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul on the couch.)
(Karen dances into the shot as Kevin and Paul look on.)
KAREN: Just let it all hang out. Get in touch with your body.
(Wider shot of Kevin and Paul, as Karen dances out of the scene.)
(Cut to Jack and Norma dancing to "Girl From Ipanema".)
(Cut to Wayne dancing to "Louie, Louie")
This was not for us.
(Kevin and Paul shake their head and frown.)
Not in public.
Cut to
Kevin's Bedroom
(Shot of the mirror.)
But in private...
(Kevin rises into the shot, and dances wildly in front of the mirror to "Born to be Wild".)
Fade to
Int. Night - School Gym
(Shot of the gym and students.)
("Born to be Wild" continues.)
(Coach Cutlip blows his whistle and points toward someone off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin and Paul entering.)
PAUL: Are you sure I look better without my glasses?
KEVIN: You look like a million bucks. (Gestures.)
(Kevin smoothes his own hair.)
KEVIN: How do I look?
(Paul squints at Kevin.)
PAUL: I have absolutely no idea.
(Kevin frowns, and looks toward the dance floor.)
(Medium shot of the dance floor.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul. Paul looks off.)
PAUL: There's Winnie!
(Kevin looks off excitedly.)
KEVIN: Where?
PAUL: Over there, by the punch bowl.
(Close shot of Cutlip tossing popcorn into his mouth.)
(Kevin frowns.)
KEVIN: That's Mr. Cutlip, Paul.
(Paul leans over and squints.)
PAUL: Oh, yeah.
(Fade to shot of a student DJ putting a record on.)
(Music "There's A Kind Of Hush" starts.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul at the refreshment table. They walk away with cups of punch. The camera pans with them.)
The goal at a junior high school dance is to look as busy as possible...
(Two girls walk by. Kevin and Paul watch them pass by.)
Without actually setting foot on the dance floor.
(Two girls walk past, Kevin and Paul look at them, and then at their cups.)
(Kevin crumples his cup, and throws it into the trashcan next to the table.)
(Paul throws his cup, which hits Carla on the shoulder. She turns around.)
(Shot of Kevin smiling at Paul.)
KEVIN: Good job, Paul, look who you just hit.
(Close shot of Carla smiling at Paul.)
(Shot of Paul squinting off, then looking surprised. He starts sneezing.)
(Close shot of Kevin smiling.)
KEVIN: Why don't you go over and ask her to dance?
(Shot of Paul sneezing.)
(Shot of Kevin frowning.)
PAUL (V/O): Is she looking over here?
(Kevin shrugs and looks at Paul.)
KEVIN: No, she's not looking over here.
(Shot of Paul.)
PAUL: Good. (Frowns.)
(Shot of Kevin looking at Paul.)
KEVIN: She's coming over here.
(Paul looks shocked.)
(Shot of Carla approaching.)
(Shot of Paul sneezing.)
(Close shot of Carla as she pauses. She smiles.)
CARLA: Hi, Paul.
(Close shot of Paul frowning.)
PAUL: Hi, Carla.
(Paul looks down.)
(Carla smiles, then and sighs and looks down.)
(Close shot of Kevin glancing at them off-screen.)
(Shot of Paul looking down. He swallows, then looks up.)
KEVIN (V/O): Carla?
(Shot of the three of them. Kevin joins their hands together.)
KEVIN: I think Paul over here has a little something to ask you.
(Close shot of Paul looking at Carla in surprise.)
(Close shot of Carla smiling.)
CARLA: OK!
(Shot of Paul smiling as Carla pulls him onto the dance floor. Kevin smiles in the background.)
(Shot of Carla and Paul as she starts to dance. Paul kinda stands there, snapping his fingers.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning at them off-screen, as he gets more punch.)
It was as sorrowful a spectacle as I had ever seen on the evening news.
(Shot of Carla dancing excitedly. Paul is barely moving, and looks toward Kevin.)
Fade to
(Shot of Kevin next to the punch bowl.)
(Shot of Paul dancing better, with Carla.)
But then an amazing thing began to happen. Paul actually began to enjoy himself.
(Close shot of Paul turning toward Kevin. He waves and smiles.)
(Shot of Kevin frowning, next to the punch bowl.)
By my third cup of punch, he was having the time of his life and I began to realize what a miserable time I was having.
(Shot of Kevin next to the punch bowl.)
(Shot of Paul and Carla dancing.)
(Close shot of Kevin. He frowns and sets his cup down, and walks out of the shot.)
(Shot of the bleachers as Kevin enters the scene and sits down.)
And it wasn't just Paul.
(Kevin rests his chin on his fists.)
(Shot of Lisa Berlini and Brad dancing.)
Lisa Berlini was having the time of her life.
(Shot of Mrs. Ritvo and a man dancing.)
Mrs. Ritvo was having the time of her life.
(Shot of the janitor emptying trash.)
Even Rodney the custodian was having the time of his life.
(Close shot of Kevin with his chin on his fists.)
I was in hell.
(Shot of the balloons at the entrance, as Winnie enters and pauses.)
(Close shot of Kevin noticing Winnie.)
And that's when Winnie Cooper entered the gym.
(Close shot of Winnie smiling.)
I had never seen her look prettier than she did standing there in the doorway.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
(Close shot of Winnie, as Kirk approaches.)
Until Kirk McCray walked in behind her, then she looked beautiful.
(Kirk and Winnie smile at each other, and walk off.)
(Close shot of Kevin. He watches them off-screen.)
It was all so unfair. I mean, this guy already had everything.
(Shot of Winnie and Lisa, as Kirk brings punch. Lisa turns to her girlfriend as Winnie takes a cup from Kirk and smiles.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen.)
And now he had my Winnie.
(Close shot of Kevin as he rises and exits past the camera.)
I wasn't gonna just stand idly by.
(Shot of the dance floor as Kevin crosses it toward the camera.)
It was time to do what any hot blooded twelve-year-old guy would have done...(he pushes a kid out of the way)...if he were in my shoes.
(Shot of Winnie and Kirk talking. The camera rolls up on Winnie.)
KEVIN (V/O): Do you want to dance?
(Winnie half-turns quickly.)
(Shot of Kevin.)
(Close shot of Winnie.)
GIRL (V/O): Sure!
(Close shot of Winnie glancing at the girl off-screen.)
(Wider shot of Kevin and the girl, and Winnie looking at them.)
(The girl smiles, and Kevin leads her onto the dance floor and start dancing.)
Try to make Winnie as furiously jealous as I was.
(Kevin looks at Winnie while he dances.)
The key would be to appear like I was having the time of my life and dance as I had never danced before.
(Kevin smiles and dances a little wilder. He looks toward Winnie off-screen.)
(Shot of Winnie and Kirk as he sets their cups down. Kirk returns, and they start to dance.)
Apparently, Winnie was playing the same game.
(Close shot of Kevin dancing, and looking at Winnie off-screen.)
(Kevin frowns and slows up.)
(Shot of Winnie and Kirk dancing.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
(Shot of Winnie and Kirk dancing.)
("Cherish" begins to play. Winnie and Kirk get close and dance.)
(Close shot of Kevin and the girl. Kevin gestures.)
KEVIN: Do you want to keep going?
GIRL: Sure, I guess so.
(Kevin and the girl dance closely. Kevin is watching Winnie.)
It all made sense at the time. This would be the moment when Winnie's eyes met mine across the dance floor and we'd both realize we were really meant to be dancing with each other.
(Close shot of Winnie putting her head on Kirk's shoulder and closing her eyes.)
(Shot of Kevin and the girl. Kevin frowns and pulls away from the girl.)
KEVIN: Um, excuse me...(gestures)...I'm just gonna go outside for a minute.
(The girl looks down as Kevin frowns and exits the shot.)
(Close shot of Winnie. She glances over her shoulder and watches Kevin off-screen.)
(Wide shot of the entrance area as Kevin quickly walks out.)
(Close shot of Winnie. She turns back to Kirk, a little uncertainly.)
(Music fades out.)
Cut to
Ext. Evening - Gym Steps
(Wide shot of Kevin sitting on the steps, looking down.)
Sitting alone outside the school, I kept wondering what it would be like if I had asked Winnie first.
(Close shot of Kevin.)
Had I meant anything at all to her?
(Closer shot of Kevin frowning and looking down.)
How could she have forgotten me so quickly?
("Boink!" sound effect.)
WINNIE as JEANNIE (V/O): Oh, Master! Why so glum?
(Kevin turns and looks up, then frowns.)
(Wider shot changes to black-and-white. Winnie, dressed as Jeannie, is standing next to Kevin. She approaches and sits down.)
WINNIE as JEANNIE: Please don't be upset with me, Master!
(Closer shot of "Jeannie".)
WINNIE as JEANNIE: I only wish to please you!
(Sound of a TV laugh-track.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and glancing off, puzzled.)
KEVIN: Huh?
(Close shot of "Jeannie".)
WINNIE as JEANNIE: I was only using him to make you jealous.
(More laugh-track.)
(Close shot of Kevin.)
KEVIN: I knew it! (Gestures.) How could you slow-dance with him?!
(Wide shot of both of them sitting.)
KEVIN: You never even said a word to me all n -
("Boink!" sound effect as "Jeannie" is popped out of the scene. The picture changes back to color.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and looking around.)
Well, you can't blame a guy for dreaming.
(Kevin sighs, then suddenly turns and frowns, then looks off.)
But really, I knew I had blown it. First, I'd forgotten about Winnie, now she'd forgotten about me. I guess it was only fair.
WINNIE (V/O): Kevin?
(Kevin turns.)
(Wide shot of Kevin sitting on the steps, as Winnie approaches.)
(Kevin looks down as Winnie pauses next to him.)
WINNIE: What are you doing out here?
(Close shot of Kevin looking off. He shrugs.)
KEVIN: Nothing.
(Kevin looks up a Winnie off-screen.)
KEVIN: What are you doing out here?
(Wider shot of both.)
WINNIE: I don't know.
(Close shot of Winnie stepping forward and sitting beside Kevin. She looks down. Kevin looks down. They sit a few seconds in silence.)
(Kevin looks at Winnie.)
KEVIN: Do you like him?
(Winnie pauses, then looks at Kevin.)
WINNIE: He's nice.
(Kevin looks away. Kevin sighs, and Winnie looks down. They sit a few seconds.)
(Kevin looks at Winnie.)
KEVIN: Winnie? Can I ask you one more thing?
(Music "I've Been Loving You (Too Long Now)" starts.)
Cut to
Int. Evening - School Gym
(Kevin and Winnie are dancing closely, looking each look off, uncertainly.)
And so Winnie and I had our one slow dance after all. But things wouldn't be the same between us. We were getting older. And whether we wanted it or not...
(Camera slowly pulls up and back to include more couples dancing.)
The Lisa Berlini's and the Kirk McCray's...were changing us by the minute. All we could do was close our eyes, and wish...that the slow song would never end.
(Picture fades to black-and-white, then freezes. Music continues.)
Cut to
CLOSING CREDITS
Music
"The Letter" - Joe Cocker
"Magic Carpet Ride" - Steppenwolf
"The Girl from Ipanema" - Astrud Gilberto
"Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen
"Born to Be Wild" - Steppenwolf
"There's A Kind of Hush" - Herman's Hermits
"The Tears of a Clown" - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
"Cherish" - The Association
"I've Been Loving You (Too Long Now)" - Otis Redding
Supporting Cast
Mrs. Ritvo - Linda Hoy
Mr. Katz - Paul Price
Lisa Berlini - Kathy Wagner
Brad Gaines - Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Carla Healey - Krista Murphy
Kirk McCray - Michael Landes
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Episode Titles/Transcripts
Episode Info
Wonder Years Menu
12/24/04 20:56